Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[dk1]

Not quite the same thing but I'm 99% sure there used to be an evening ECS from Ipswich back to Norwich which ferried an amalgamation of branchline units back to Crown Point as 3*4/755

EDIT: I think the working in question is 5P84 23+46 Ipswich - Crown Point. seems to have been mostly 11s but I'm sure I've seen it as a 12 when a 4car ended up on the Felixstowe branch.

Yes, 3x755/4s running as ECS on 5P82 or similar back to Crown Point is fine.

 

[GW43125]

Yes, 3x755/4s running as ECS on 5P82 or similar back to Crown Point is fine.

Thanks for confirming-glad I'm not going completely mad!

 

[saismee]

I've nearly ended up on my way back to Ipswich on that last Felixstowe. Not a soul on board but me, the driver, and the guard!

 

[dk1]

I've nearly ended up on my way back to Ipswich on that last Felixstowe. Not a soul on board but me, the driver, and the guard!

Your own personal taxi.

 

[saismee]

Your own personal taxi.

Including a lovely chat with the guard too.

 

[JM240653]

If so then it looks like it ran 2R20 on December 23rd. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P49330/2025-12-23/detailed

Why was it out of service? EDIT: A search reveals that it had an "altercation with a tree".

Appears to have made to way to Ipswich from Crown Point as part of 5Y00 (with 755333) www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P50693/2025-12-30/detailed#allox_id=0 https://

 

[chiltern trev]

Platform works.

Were any platform works carried out on the routes operated by the class 755?

On Merseyside, there was a comprehensive review of all platform heights and all but a few platforms/stations were reworked so as to provided a consistent platform height and platform edge as part of the class 777 project and these platform works were included within the project cost.

I have not seen any mention of platform works being carried out on routes worked by class 755 - maybe the East Anglia platforms were of a more consistent height and condition.

 

[saismee]

I have not seen any mention of platform works being carried out on routes worked by class 755 - maybe the East Anglia platforms were of a more consistent height and condition.

Some of the platforms on the Breckland line and between Ely to Peterborough had to have some changes I believe. I'm sure others can name some specifics.

 

[smsm1]

Platform works.

Were any platform works carried out on the routes operated by the class 755?

On Merseyside, there was a comprehensive review of all platform heights and all but a few platforms/stations were reworked so as to provided a consistent platform height and platform edge as part of the class 777 project and these platform works were included within the project cost.

I have not seen any mention of platform works being carried out on routes worked by class 755 - maybe the East Anglia platforms were of a more consistent height and condition.

I suspect cost was a factor so things like Berney Arms was demand too low passenger numbers and you would need to be able to walk from there anyway, so deemed not worthwhile to sort the level boarding.

Considering how difficult it is to get the access for all funding to get level platform access and lifts installed, it's not surprising.

 

[dk1]

No there where few if any platform works carried out to enable 755 introduction. For that reason ramps are secured at many stations for conductors to use as platform heights are not in keeping with fully level boarding.

 

[chrisdoward]

Platform works.

Were any platform works carried out on the routes operated by the class 755?

On Merseyside, there was a comprehensive review of all platform heights and all but a few platforms/stations were reworked so as to provided a consistent platform height and platform edge as part of the class 777 project and these platform works were included within the project cost.

I have not seen any mention of platform works being carried out on routes worked by class 755 - maybe the East Anglia platforms were of a more consistent height and condition.

The platform at Sheringham was re-built and extended.

 

[dk1]

The platform at Sheringham was re-built and extended.

Oh yes, I’d forgotten that one. It was desperately overdue.

 

[chiltern trev]

No there where few if any platform works carried out to enable 755 introduction. For that reason ramps are secured at many stations for conductors to use as platform heights are not in keeping with fully level boarding.

At how many stations does the level access work ok without the use of a ramp, i.e. where a passenger who would normally require a ramp on a high floor unit be able to roll on and roll off a 755?

Has the level access boarding feature resulated in increased ridership - although this might be difficult to determine from the new trains effect.

 

[dk1]

At how many stations does the level access work ok without the use of a ramp, i.e. where a passenger who would normally require a ramp on a high floor unit be able to roll on and roll off a 755?

Has the level access boarding feature resulated in increased ridership - although this might be difficult to determine from the new trains effect.

Yes hard to determine but GA Regional routes have just grown & grown following the introduction of these and even throughout the pandemic. It’s varies greatly but Cambridge Plat 6, North Walsham UP & Beccles DN stick out as regular wheelchair ramp hot spots.

 

[saismee]

P1 at Ipswich isn't great as it's too high at the accessible coach. Fine for getting in if you don't mind a bump.

 

[wagnaga]

It should be remembered that even reducing the gap has huge benefits for huge groups of people parents and carers with children, those who are less mobile or those with luggage. All of this helps to keep trains to timetable and drive passenger use by increasing confidence.

 

[smsm1]

Also worth noting that some wheelchairs have smaller wheels so will still need the ramp even with the small gap. Having a smaller ramp should in theory be fractionally quicker and easier to put down too.

The faster speeds of getting on really helps many other groups too.

 

[saismee]

Also worth noting that some wheelchairs have smaller wheels so will still need the ramp even with the small gap. Having a smaller ramp should in theory be fractionally quicker and easier to put down too.

And castors which can very easily rotate and drop into the gap, tipping the chair and injuring the occupant.

 

[Trainbike46]

And castors which can very easily rotate and drop into the gap, tipping the chair and injuring the occupant.

Have you seen how thin the gap is when the gap extender is all the way out? On every wheelchair I've ever seen, the castors are wider than the gap. If that wasn't the case, how could such a wheelchair ever go into a lift, over a street drain or across a bridge without the risk you have described occuring?

Clearly, the option to reserve assistance (including a ramp) should remain available, but the risk you describe sounds almost impossible in the real world.

 

[saismee]

the risk you describe sounds almost impossible in the real world.

It's actually a training point with real world examples, and it's very possible. The 755 I boared today had quite a large gap even with the step.

 

[Railperf]

Some news reports suggesting the GA fleet of Class 755s suffering more trains than usual requiring repair and causing cancellations.
Does anyone have some more info?
From East Anglian Daily times

Rail passengers face major disruption as trains cancelled due to repairs

Passengers are facing major disruptions as trains between Norwich and Cambridge have been cancelled.

www.edp24.co.uk

Journeys between Norwich and Cambridge have been cancelled due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

The disruption is expected until the end of the day, with these services being cancelled:

• 20.42 Cambridge to Norwich
• 19.15 Norwich to Cambridge
• 17.41 Cambridge to Norwich
• 16.40 Cambridge to Norwich
• 16.06 Norwich to Cambridge
• 15.08 Norwich to Cambridge
• 14.40 Cambridge to Norwich
• 13.41 Cambridge to Norwich
• 13.08 Norwich to Cambridge
• 12.08 Norwich to Cambridge
• 11.42 Cambridge to Norwich
• 10.28 Cambridge to Norwich
• 10.08 Norwich to Cambridge
• 09.03 Norwich to Cambridge

 

[saismee]

Some news reports suggesting the GA fleet of Class 755s suffering more trains than usual requiring repair and causing cancellations.

Some early Lowestoft to Ipswich services were cancelled as well due to faults. I remember a Lowestoft unit had to be taken out of service recently due to a smashed windscreen, that may be related.

 

[chiltern trev]

Does this mean there are not enough spare units and the fleet is being too tightly utilised so lack of resilience when unit(s) go wrong.

 

[Trainbike46]

Does this mean there are not enough spare units and the fleet is being too tightly utilised so lack of resilience when unit(s) go wrong.

The triple traction usage, with 3 regional units in use on intercity services, is probably a contributing factor there.

Though the order originally was for more regional services than actually run (hourly Ipswich-Peterborough and Lowestoft London 4x per day, on top of today's service pattern)

 

[F Great Eastern]

Considering the amount of slack if the fleet there's no way this should happen. Has maintenance been let go?

 

[86246]

These would appear to the additional services that were scheduled today between Norwich and Cambridge due to the engineering works between Diss and Ipswich. There would be a number of spare units but sadly south of the blockade at Ipswich and Colchester. I would still have expected some spare units to cover this in Norwich so must be a bit of unexpected problems.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

I don't think it's the full story being released as it being a Sunday and engineering works between Diss and Ipswich, I would be very surprised if the triple 755 was out. I'm suspecting there was more than one reason for the cancellation, maybe too many stuck South of the blockade and potentially not enough train crews conveniently put in the more trains needing maintenance than normal

 

[dk1]

I don't think it's the full story being released as it being a Sunday and engineering works between Diss and Ipswich, I would be very surprised if the triple 755 was out. I'm suspecting there was more than one reason for the cancellation, maybe too many stuck South of the blockade and potentially not enough train crews conveniently put in the more trains needing maintenance than normal

Not enough traincrew is something GA definitely do not suffer with especially on this the Anglia Railways side so that can certainly be discounted.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2026 ==

Looks like some of this afternoon/evening’s cancellations have since been reinstated.

 

[saismee]

I would be very surprised if the triple 755 was out

I didn't see it at any point, so I would assume not. Possibly too much stock stored south of Stowmarket (Ipswich/Colchester) and no easy way to get it back up to Norwich/Cambridge with the line closures? I doubt it, but you never know.

 

[dk1]

Apart from some 755/3 units on 755/4 diagrams and vice-versa, there are no BMU shortages disrupting any services this morning.